Blood Transfusion

Blood Transfusion Error Lawsuit

If you or a loved one suffered from a serious injury or death as a result of a failed blood transfusion due to a healthcare professional’s error, you may be entitled to compensation for past and future medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of consortium, and other damages. Contact our medical malpractice attorneys today for a free case evaluation.

Blood transfusions are a common practice used in the medical community of the United States and abroad in which blood or blood products are transferred from one person, the donor, into the bloodstream of another person, the recipient. Blood transfusions are used in a number of emergency situations such as when a patient has experienced severe blood loss due to injury or surgery, or when a patient suffers from anemia, blood-clotting disorders, hemophilia, or sickle-cell anemia. While this procedure has saved countless lives since it was originally put into practice, it also comes with the risk of blood transfusion errors on the part of healthcare providers. If you or a loved one suffered an injury due to a blood transfusion error, contact the medical malpractice attorneys of Abbott Law Group to discuss your legal rights.

Common Blood Transfusion Errors

An estimated 5 million people will require a blood transfusion each year in the United States. With such a high number of blood transfusion procedures being performed, mistakes by healthcare providers are bound to happen. One medical study estimated that approximately 215 blood transfusion errors occur every month; however, this number is likely much higher than estimated. Often times, these errors come about as a result of mislabeling blood containers with the incorrect blood type. Other errors come about as a result of simply mishandling the blood or improperly storing it. Some of the most common blood transfusion errors include:

Transfusion of the wrong blood – In order for a transfusion to work properly, the receiver must receive the right blood type. This common error can occur due to the improper labeling of the containers or if a healthcare provider fails to identify the right patient.

Use of tainted blood – This can occur when the blood is not tested properly and is contaminated with a disease, or when the blood is not stored at the right temperature.

Failure to recognize the need for a transfusion – When patients suffer severe trauma and have lost a lot of blood, healthcare providers must recognize the need for a blood transfusion. Often times, the poor training of medical staff or inexperience can result in a failure in this regard.

Unnecessary or improper transfusion – This occurs when medical staff are too quick to resort to using a blood transfusion.

If you or a loved one had an adverse reaction to a blood transfusion, contact our attorneys today for a free consultation.

Blood Transfusion Error Injuries

Blood transfusions are a delicate process, and the failure to follow protocols can lead to serious injuries and even death. Some of the most common consequences of a blood transfusion error include:

Acute Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction (AHTRs),

Anaphylactic shock,

Fever reactions,

Kidney failure,

Infections or diseases contained in contaminated blood such as HIV and hepatitis

Some of the symptoms associated with an incompatible blood transfusion include fever, nausea, chills, body aches, hypertension or hypotension, and shortness of breath. If you experience any of these symptoms after a blood transfusion, immediately notify your doctor.

Jacksonville Blood Transfusion Error Attorneys

While blood transfusions have saved countless lives over the past hundred years, the procedure does not come without serious risks. These risks escalate when healthcare professionals make simple mistakes before or during the procedure. If you or a loved one suffered from an injury or death as a result of a failed blood transfusion due to a healthcare professional’s error, you may be entitled to compensation for past and future medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of consortium, and other damages. Contact the medical malpractice attorneys of Abbott Law Group today for a free case evaluation.